“Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation” to feature 90 works from more than 60 Indigenous artists of the Great Lakes region
The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is preparing to open a landmark exhibition that shines a spotlight on Native American creativity, culture, and resilience. Opening on September 28, 2025, the exhibit is titled “Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation” and marks the DIA’s first major presentation of Native American art in more than three decades.
This long-awaited showcase will bring together nearly 90 original works by over 60 Anishinaabe artists from the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada, representing one of the most comprehensive collections of contemporary Native art ever exhibited in the Midwest.
The featured artists span a wide range of backgrounds, generations, and media—from painting, sculpture, and beadwork to photography, film, and jewelry. Together, their works reflect both the cultural heritage and forward-looking creativity of the Anishinaabe peoples, a group that includes the Ojibwe (Chippewa), Odawa (Ottawa), and Potawatomi—nations traditionally referred to as the Three Fires Confederacy.
Full article at Metro Times:
Detroit Institute of Arts to host first major Native American art exhibition in 30+ years
Exhibit details at DIA.org:
Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation
A Collaboration Rooted in Respect
The exhibition is not only visually rich—it is culturally significant. The DIA partnered closely with an advisory board of Native leaders, elders, and artists to ensure the project reflects Anishinaabe voices, values, and worldviews. All gallery signage and interpretive text will be bilingual: in English and in Anishnaabemowin, the Ojibwe language spoken throughout the Great Lakes region.
“This exhibition has been a collaborative process that could not have happened without the trust, guidance, and generous sharing of knowledge from our Anishinaabe advisory board and the artists themselves,” said Dr. Denene De Quintal, DIA’s Assistant Curator of Native American Art.
“We have worked together to ensure this exhibition represents the diversity and dynamism of contemporary Anishinaabe art while honoring the cultural traditions from which these works originate.”
A Cultural Milestone for Detroit
The DIA has long been recognized for its world-class collections, but this new exhibit marks a turning point in the museum’s efforts to reflect the living heritage and contributions of Indigenous communities in and around Michigan.
Salvador Salort?Pons, Director of the DIA, emphasized that the museum is committed to celebrating the voices and visions of Native artists:
“This exhibition marks a major moment for the DIA as we celebrate the vibrant, living cultures of the Anishinaabe and their profound contributions to contemporary art. Native American artists are at the forefront of contemporary artistic expression, and this exhibition brings their stories into focus.”
Why It Matters
In a time when cultural inclusion and Indigenous representation are more important than ever, the DIA’s upcoming exhibition is both timely and deeply needed. It offers the general public, students, and art lovers a chance to encounter Native art not as artifacts of the past—but as voices of the present and future.
“Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation” will run from September 28, 2025, with educational programs, artist talks, and community engagement events planned alongside the exhibition.
This is more than an art show—it’s a cultural homecoming and a visual dialogue that invites visitors to see Native communities not through the lens of history alone, but through the living, evolving lens of today.
For schedules, group visits, and background on the exhibit:
Visit DIA’s official exhibit page
